Antifriction drawer-slide.



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Patented July 9, [90L B F; ALLEN. ANTIFWHFITIOM, ERMMELB. SLIDE.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OEETCE.

BENJAMIN F. ALLEN, OF PORTLAND, MAINE.

ANTIFRICTION DRAWER-SLIDE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 678,21 1, dated July 9, IOI.

Application filed January 11, 1901. Serial No. 42,851. (No model.)

To on whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, BENJAMIN F. ALLEN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Portland, in the county of Cumberland and State of Maine, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Antifriction Drawer- Slides; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to improvements in antifriction drawer-slides,- and is designed especially to cause the drawers in a desk or other article of furniture to be opened easily and prevent binding in their outward passage.

To this end it consists of a series of strips, two of which are attached rigidly to the sides of the drawer, two others forming a run attached to the side of the desk or other article of furniture in which the drawer is to be placed, the third running between the two, and in certain improved grooves and runs, antifriction devices on the upper and lower edges of the intermediate slide, and in means for preventing the drawer from being pulled out too far, so as to cause the same to tip or fall.

In the drawings herewith accompanying and forming a part of this application, Figure l is a side elevation of'my improved device, parts being broken away. Fig. 2 is a section taken on line X X of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a section taken on line Y Yof Fig. 1, it being understood that in said drawings are shown one set of slides, the other set being of the same design.

In said drawings, Arepresents an overhanging track which is rigidly attached to the drawer. B represents a run which is rigidly attached to the casing in which the drawer slides. Between said overhanging track and run is an extensible slide 0. Said slide is provided with grooves D both in its upper and lower edge, said grooves running longitudinally of said slide. Said grooves are practically circular in form, except at the portions E, which are deeper and have vertical walls. The object of cutting away a portion of the grooved surface is to enable the antifriction devices to slide or roll more easily therein and at the same time to serve as a receptacle for dust which usually collects in such grooves and further offers a ready means for clearing out said grooves should any splinters, dust, or such matter collect therein which would impede the movement of the antifriction devices therein.

F represents the an tifriction devices, which are preferably circular balls. The groove is so constructed that the balls when once placed in position cannot fall out, having plugs Jin the ends thereof and overhanging edges K, which extend partially over the outer surfaces of the balls.

On the lower edge, at the rear end of the overhanging track A, is a stop G, which extends part way the length of said overhanging track and serves as a means for holding said track in the groove on the upper edge of the extensible slide and at the same time as a stop for preventing said track from being drawn too far outwardly. On the upper ex treinity of the runs B, near their outer ends, are provided similar stops H, extending part way the length of the runs, said stop extending a short distance into the groove in the extensible slide. This serves also as a means for preventing said extensible slide from being drawn too far outwardly. Said extensible slide is also provided with an upwardly extending arm or stop I, which serves to prevent the drawer from being pushed back too far and prevents the drawer when drawn out its full length from tipping downwardly.

In drawer-slides as previously constructed I have found that by the peculiar arrangement of the slides and antifriction device the drawers are likely to bind and if the weight is not evenly distributed therein to tip downwardly, and also they are inclined to slide from one side to the other; also, when dust collects in the grooves in which the antifric tion devices run the movement of said antifriction devices is delayed and the easy workin g of the drawer is impaired. By constructing the slide as I do, the portion of the drawer on which the antifriction device slides being cut away, tends to make said antifriction devices move very easily, and by making the vertical slot lengthwise of the extensible slide should dust or foreign matter collect in the groove it has an opportunity to drop into said slot or be forced out through it, as its ends L are open. By having the stops (one on the inner end of the overhanging tracks, the other on the outer end of the run) double serves the purpose of preventing any lateral movement of the extensible slide. By placing the slots in the upper and lower edges of the extensible slide and placing the antifriction devices therein causes said slides to be more easily drawn out, as the balls roll in the direction that the slides take, and at the same time the slides moveon the balls, as they bear on the edges and "on the edges of the overhanging tracks and on the runs, respectively.

Having thus described myinvention and its use, I clai1n In an antifriction d rawer-slide, in combination, a casing, a drawer, overhanging tracks attached to the side of said drawer, said tracks being provided with d0Wnwardly-extending stops in their lower edges and at the rear of the drawer, rigid runs attached to the side of the casing and provided with upwardly-extending stops H on their upper edges and at the outer end thereof, extension-slides provided with grooves in both their upper and lower edges, said grooves being substantially circular in cross-section, substantially rectangular slots contiguous With said grooves, said slots opening into said circular grooves, antifriotion devices moving in said grooves in both the top and bottom edges of the extension-slides, a portion of the periphery of said antifriction devices resting in the slots and upwardly-extending arms on the rear of the extension-slides to prevent the same from being pulled out too far and When pulled out from tipping downwardly.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature, in presence of two Witnesses, this 2d day of January, 1901.

. BENJAMIN F. ALLEN.

Witnesses:

NATHAN CLIFFORD, ELGIN O. VERRILL. 

